Packer running back Starks' deal is worth $3.165 million

Green Bay — The Green Bay Packers left little doubt of their intentions for James Starks this week by signing him to a noteworthy contract for a backup running back.

Starks, an unrestricted free agent, elected to forgo interest from other National Football League teams late Monday and signed a two-year deal that was worth $3,165,626.

The contract contained a $725,000 signing bonus, base salaries of $750,000 this year and $1.175 million in 2015, per-game roster bonuses of $182,813 each year (paid at the rate of $11,426 for each game on the 46-man active roster) and $75,000 workout bonuses each year.

He will count $1.37 million against the salary cap this year and $1.795 million in 2015. His contract averaged $1.583 million.

Starks' guaranteed money of $725,000 was more than twice the $350,000 that tight end Andrew Quarless received last week in his two-year, $3 million deal. Starks was drafted in the sixth round in 2010, one round after Quarless.

"A guy like (Denver's) Knowshon Moreno is still sitting out there," an executive in personnel for an AFC team said this week. "It's such a replaceable position. The supply and demand is favorable to the club. History shows you you don't have to spend (a lot)."

In the first 10 days of free agency, nine running backs signed contracts.

Rashad Jennings signed a four-year deal with the New York Giants that included $2.98 million in guarantees.

Signing three-year deals were Toby Gerhart with Jacksonville ($4.5 million guaranteed), Donald Brown with San Diego ($4 million guaranteed) and Anthony Dixon with Buffalo ($750,000 guaranteed).

Besides Starks, two-year contracts were signed by Ben Tate with Cleveland ($2.5 million guaranteed) and Peyton Hillis, who went back to the Giants ($100,000 guaranteed).

Signing one-year deals were Darren McFadden to go back to Oakland ($100,000 guaranteed), Jonathan Dwyer with Arizona ($65,000 guaranteed) and Ahmad Bradshaw to go back to Indianapolis (no guarantees).

Starks, 28, was coming off a four-year rookie contract that averaged $472,575 and had $100,300 in guarantees.

Last season probably was Starks' best in Green Bay, although he was successful as the starter during the four-game championship drive after the 2010 season.

Counting the playoff loss to San Francisco, Starks carried 94 times for 522 yards, three touchdowns and a whopping 5.55-yard average. In contrast, Lacy averaged 4.13 in 305 carries for 1,259 yards.

He averaged just 16.8 snaps in 14 games, missing three October games with a sprained knee.

The process: Tight end Jermichael Finley is at least two months away and maybe several months more from being in position to sign with a team, a source familiar with the situation said this week.

Finley, one of the 10 unsigned players on the Packers' unrestricted list, visited Seattle on March 12. John Schneider, who was scouting for the Packers when they drafted Finley in 2008, is the Seahawks' general manager.

The Seahawks thanked Finley for coming and informed him in so many words to stay in touch after the passage of time would presumably mean additional healing for his bruised spinal cord, according to sources.

Obviously, the Seahawks' opinion will circulate among teams because they were the first club Finley visited.

Finley underwent a cervical fusion Nov. 14 after suffering damage to the C3-C4 area of his spine. He was injured Oct. 20 on a hard hit by Cleveland safety Tashaun Gipson.

Safety Sean Richardson underwent a cervical fusion on Jan. 15, 2013, after suffering a herniated disc in the C5-C6 area of his spine. It was 10½ months later before the Packers' medical staff gave him full clearance to practice and play as a member of the 53-man roster.

It probably wasn't coincidence that Zach Miller, the Seahawks' starter, signed off on a huge pay cut two days after the visit by Finley. Seattle also has talented underachiever Anthony McCoy, Luke Willson and Travis Beckum at tight end.

Also at play is the $10 million tax-free insurance policy that Finley would collect if he can't play again.

Cap situation: After the signing of Starks, the Packers were $16.149 million beneath their adjusted salary cap of $141.8 million.

Elsewhere in the NFC North Division, the cap space is $13 million for Minnesota, $7.4 million for Chicago and $2 million for Detroit.

Money count: Hill's two-year deal with the Packers last month was for $1.08 million. It contained no signing bonus.

About Bob McGinn

Bob McGinn is a beat writer and columnist covering the Green Bay Packers. A six-time Wisconsin state sportswriter of the year, he won the Dick McCann Memorial Award in 2011 for long and distinguished reporting on pro football.